CWT – day 1
27.4.2023 Thursday
Fort William – Corryhully bothy
40 km – 690 m ↑
In the morning Peťa drives me into town for the Camusnagaul ferry. We say our goodbyes — hopefully see each other again in 10 days. The little boat carries me across to the other shore of Loch Linnhe for 2 pounds, where the CWT begins.
On the ferry I meet Bill, an Englishman from Leeds, also starting today, so we walk the whole stretch of asphalt together to Cona Glen. Right as we enter the glen (glen means valley), it starts raining. Not heavy, but it lasts all day. I try out my poncho — works great, just flaps into my face in the wind. We walk together all the way to the private Corrlarach bothy. Walking in pair is great — Bill’s built like a mountain, calls himself a “fat bastard” himself 😁. We part ways here, Bill says he’ll camp somewhere before Glenfinnan (we’ll cross paths again).
After 15 km through Cona Glen I climb over the trail’s first pass, Bealach Allt na Cruaiche (383 m). Beyond it the trail turns to nothing but water — my shoes get wet for the first time.
I descend into Glenfinnan over a closed footbridge (I don’t get why, looks perfectly fine), where the famous viaduct from the Harry Potter films stands.
I get coffee and a pastry at the local tourist café. Crowds are streaming back from the viaduct, so I figure I missed the train, no matter. Really busy here, so I push on quickly. After about 5 km, again on asphalt, I reach Corryhully bothy — today’s destination.
The bothy’s luxuriously equipped — there’s even electricity and a kettle. I settle in, take my first wash in the stream, and change into dry clothes. After a while the owner Alistair arrives, telling me to get the fire going since two more people are on their way. Jerry (60+) from Aberdeen shows up, doing the trek in sections, followed by Bill, who apparently didn’t feel like pitching a tent in that rain 😊. About an hour later two girls from Czechia arrive too, doing just part of the trek. We chat until around 9 and go to sleep.
Rain’s forecast again tomorrow, and I want to push all the way to Barrisdale bothy, so we’ll see how it goes.
